What is the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV)?
Launched in July 2024, the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) is Thailand's official digital nomad visa designed for remote workers, freelancers, and location-independent professionals. It's one of the most attractive digital nomad visas globally, offering 5 years of validity with extended stay periods.
Key Features:
- Validity: 5 years from date of issue
- Entry type: Multiple entry
- Stay per entry: 180 days (6 months)
- Extension: Can extend once for additional 180 days per entry (total 360 days/1 year per entry)
- Cost: ฿10,000 ($285 USD) application fee
- Extension fee: ฿1,900-10,000 per 180-day extension
Who is Eligible?
The DTV is designed for remote workers who work for foreign companies or clients while living in Thailand.
Age Requirement
- Minimum age: 20 years old
- No upper age limit
Work Requirement
You must be employed by or working for a foreign company/clients. Eligible applicants include:
- Remote employees of foreign companies
- Freelancers working for international clients
- Digital entrepreneurs running online businesses
- Content creators with international audience/income
- Consultants serving foreign clients
Financial Requirement
- Minimum bank balance: ฿500,000 ($14,300 USD)
- Must be maintained for at least 3 months prior to application
- Can be in foreign currency equivalent
- Must show bank statements for past 3-6 months
Application Requirements
Required Documents
1. Passport
- Valid for at least 6 months from application date
- At least 2 blank pages
- Passport copy (photo and entry stamp pages)
2. Financial Proof
- Bank statements from the last 3-6 months
- Showing minimum balance of ฿500,000
- Must be recent (within 30 days of application)
3. Employment/Work Proof (One of the following):
- For Employees: Employment contract with foreign company
- For Freelancers: Portfolio of work + client contracts/invoices
- For Business Owners: Business registration documents + proof of online business
- For All: Letter from employer/clients confirming remote work arrangement
4. Additional Documents
- Completed visa application form
- Passport-sized photos (4x6 cm)
- Proof of current residence (utility bill, rental agreement)
- Travel insurance (recommended but not mandatory)
Where to Apply
E-Visa System (Recommended)
Most countries can apply online through Thailand's e-visa platform.
- Available for: UK, US, Canada, Australia, EU countries, and many others
- Submit documents electronically
- Processing: 5-15 business days
- Receive visa approval via email
Thai Embassy/Consulate
Important: You must apply from the country where the company you work for is based or registered, OR from your country of residence/citizenship.
- Cannot apply from Thailand
- Some consulates may have different requirements - check specific embassy guidelines
Application Process Step-by-Step
- Gather all documents
- Ensure bank balance meets ฿500,000 requirement
- Collect employment/freelance proof
- Get recent bank statements
- Choose application method
- E-visa (if available for your country)
- In-person at Thai embassy/consulate
- Complete application form
- Fill out accurately
- Double-check all information
- Submit application and documents
- Upload via e-visa OR submit in person
- Pay ฿10,000 application fee
- Wait for processing
- Typically 5-15 business days
- May receive requests for additional documents
- Receive visa approval
- E-visa: Receive via email
- Embassy: Collect passport with visa stamp
How the DTV Works
First Entry
- Enter Thailand within 90 days of visa approval
- Receive 180-day stamp on arrival
- Can stay for 6 months from entry date
Extension (Optional)
- Before your 180 days expire, visit Thai Immigration
- Can extend for additional 180 days (total 360 days/1 year)
- Extension fee: ฿1,900-10,000
- This is a one-time extension per entry
Multiple Entries
- After your stay expires (or before), you can exit and re-enter Thailand
- Each entry gives you a fresh 180 days
- Can extend each entry once for 180 days
- Valid for 5 years from issue date
Maximum Stay Calculation
Theoretically, you could stay in Thailand continuously by:
- Entry 1: 180 days + 180 day extension = 360 days
- Exit and re-enter
- Entry 2: 180 days + 180 day extension = 360 days
- Repeat for 5 years
Note: While this is technically possible, immigration may question frequent continuous stays. It's advisable to spend some time outside Thailand between entries.
Important Restrictions
What You CAN Do
- Work remotely for foreign companies
- Serve international clients
- Run online businesses serving foreign customers
- Create content for international audiences
- Freelance for non-Thai clients
What You CANNOT Do
- Work for Thai companies - This is strictly prohibited
- Have Thai clients - Cannot conduct business with Thai individuals/companies
- Meet with Thai clients - Even if employed by foreign company
- Perform services for Thai entities - All work must be for foreign entities
⚠️ Important: Violating work restrictions can result in visa cancellation, fines, and possible ban from Thailand. Always ensure your work is exclusively for foreign clients/employers.
Dependents and Family
The DTV allows you to sponsor dependents:
- Spouse: Can apply for dependent DTV
- Children under 20: Can apply for dependent DTV
- Dependents receive the same 5-year validity and 180-day stays
- Each dependent must pay ฿10,000 application fee
- Dependents must show they are financially supported by the main applicant
Cost Breakdown
Initial Application
- Visa fee: ฿10,000 ($285 USD)
- Bank balance requirement: ฿500,000 ($14,300 USD) - not a fee, must maintain
- Document preparation: $50-200 (translations, certifications if needed)
- Agent fees (optional): $200-500
During 5 Years
- 180-day extension: ฿1,900-10,000 per extension (if you want to stay longer than 180 days per entry)
- No annual renewal fees
- 90-day reporting: Free (but required if staying continuously)
Total 5-Year Cost
If you maximize your stay by extending each entry:
- Initial visa: ฿10,000
- Extensions (approximately 5 times over 5 years): ฿10,000-50,000
- Total: ฿20,000-60,000 ($570-1,715 USD) for 5 years
90-Day Reporting
Like all long-term visa holders in Thailand, DTV holders must report their address every 90 days if staying continuously.
How to Report
- Online: Via Thai immigration website (easiest)
- In person: At local immigration office
- By mail: Send TM47 form via registered post
Timeline: Report 15 days before to 7 days after your 90-day deadline
Penalty for late reporting: ฿2,000 fine
Pro tip: If you exit and re-enter Thailand before 90 days, the count resets. Many digital nomads travel regionally to avoid 90-day reporting.
Best Cities for Digital Nomads in Thailand
Bangkok
Pros:
- Excellent coworking spaces (Hubba, AIS D.C., The Hive)
- Fast internet (100+ Mbps widely available)
- International community
- All amenities and services
Cons:
- Higher cost of living
- Traffic and pollution
- Can be overwhelming
Cost: $800-1,500/month
Chiang Mai
Pros:
- Digital nomad hub - huge community
- Affordable ($500-900/month)
- Excellent cafes and coworking spaces (Punspace, CAMP)
- Cooler climate (November-February)
- Relaxed pace of life
Cons:
- Burning season (March-April) causes severe air pollution
- Smaller city, fewer international amenities
Phuket
Pros:
- Beach lifestyle
- Growing digital nomad scene
- Good coworking spaces
- International airport
Cons:
- More expensive than Chiang Mai
- Very touristy in some areas
- Rainy season can be intense
Common Questions
Can I switch from a tourist visa to DTV while in Thailand?
No. The DTV must be applied for from outside Thailand, from your country of residence or where your employer is based.
What happens if my employment situation changes?
Your visa remains valid even if you change jobs or clients, as long as you continue working for foreign entities. You don't need to notify immigration of job changes.
Can I run a Thai-facing business on a DTV?
No. All your business activities must be for foreign clients/customers. Serving the Thai market requires a different visa and work permit.
Do I need health insurance?
It's not mandatory for the DTV (unlike the retirement visa), but it's highly recommended. Thai hospitals are excellent but can be expensive without insurance.
Can I study on a DTV?
Informal learning (language courses, cooking classes) is fine. For formal education programs, you may need an ED visa instead.
DTV vs Other Visas
| Feature | DTV | Elite Visa | Retirement Visa |
|---|
| Validity | 5 years | 5-20 years | 1 year (renewable) |
| Stay per entry | 180 days (+180 extension) | Varies by tier | 1 year |
| Cost | ฿10,000 | ฿650,000-5,000,000 | ~฿10,000 + insurance |
| Bank requirement | ฿500,000 | None | ฿800,000 |
| Age requirement | 20+ | None | 50+ |
| Can work remotely | Yes (foreign clients only) | No | No |
Tips for Success
- Prepare thorough work documentation: The more proof of legitimate remote work, the better
- Maintain bank balance: Keep ฿500,000+ in account for several months before applying
- Apply from correct country: Must be from where your company is based or your residence country
- Use e-visa if available: Faster and more convenient than in-person
- Have backup documents: Extra contracts, invoices, proof of work
- Be clear about remote work: Emphasize you serve foreign clients only
- Join digital nomad communities: Facebook groups, forums for updated information
Ready to Live and Work in Thailand?
The Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) offers incredible flexibility for remote workers looking to experience Thailand long-term. Our team can help you navigate the application process, ensure all your documents are in order, and maximize your chances of approval. We also assist with finding the perfect neighborhood, coworking spaces, and settling into the digital nomad lifestyle in Thailand. Book a free consultation to get started.